Flipping Out

Anxiety

5 Ways to Cope with Obsessive News Checking

Richard Brouillette LCSW on November 4, 2024

Obsessive news-checking is like eating empty calories—you're left hungry and still wanting more. These strategies can help you rein it in.

Obsessive news-checking is like eating empty calories—you're left hungry and still wanting more. These strategies can help you rein it in.

Shame

Chronic Shame: The Biggest Problem You Didn’t Know You Have

Richard Brouillette LCSW on October 18, 2024

Chronic shame often shows up in therapy sessions as depression and anxiety. Therapists and clients may need to dig deeper to find and relieve unacknowledged shame.

Chronic shame often shows up in therapy sessions as depression and anxiety. Therapists and clients may need to dig deeper to find and relieve unacknowledged shame.

Anger

5 Signs Your Angry Inner Child Is Running Your Life

Richard Brouillette LCSW on October 8, 2024

There is no doubt that we encounter unfair situations in life. An angry inner child can see unfairness too much and too often, risking loss of credibility when we really need it.

There is no doubt that we encounter unfair situations in life. An angry inner child can see unfairness too much and too often, risking loss of credibility when we really need it.

Narcissism

You Got a Narcissism Diagnosis: Now What?

Richard Brouillette LCSW on November 17, 2023

If you or a loved one actually receives a narcissism diagnosis, what does it really mean? Here are 10 points to help you cope.

If you or a loved one actually receives a narcissism diagnosis, what does it really mean? Here are 10 points to help you cope.

Therapy

Is Therapy Homework Getting You Down? 8 Ways to Help

Richard Brouillette LCSW on October 6, 2023

By following a few guidelines, you can make therapy homework work for you, and overcome the dread of doing it.

By following a few guidelines, you can make therapy homework work for you, and overcome the dread of doing it.

Neuroscience

Compulsive Toxic Regret: Stop It Using Neuroscience

Richard Brouillette LCSW on July 14, 2023

A simple exercise helps you finally let go of toxic regrets and connect more deeply with the person you want to be.

A simple exercise helps you finally let go of toxic regrets and connect more deeply with the person you want to be.

Artificial Intelligence

2 Ways AI Fails at Therapy, and Why You Should Care

Richard Brouillette LCSW on May 26, 2023

Helpline workers in mental health call centers are being replaced by chatbots. In a threat to real psychotherapy, your therapist may be next.

Helpline workers in mental health call centers are being replaced by chatbots. In a threat to real psychotherapy, your therapist may be next.

Empathy

2 Ways Empathy Determines the Type of Partner We Choose

Richard Brouillette LCSW on April 28, 2023

Your empathy style may explain why you keep finding yourself in relationships that feel eerily familiar, even when you’re sure you’ve tried to find a different kind of partner.

Your empathy style may explain why you keep finding yourself in relationships that feel eerily familiar, even when you’re sure you’ve tried to find a different kind of partner.

Relationships

HBO’s "Succession": Grieving Someone You Love and Hate

Richard Brouillette LCSW on April 10, 2023

How do you accept the reality of having contradictory feelings for the same person?

How do you accept the reality of having contradictory feelings for the same person?

Trauma

Therapy Everywhere, All at Once: The Therapy Multiverse

Richard Brouillette LCSW on March 27, 2023

Unlike in the movies, to access the therapy multiverse, you don’t have to chew old gum you found under a desk, staple your forehead, or talk to Dr. Strange.

Unlike in the movies, to access the therapy multiverse, you don’t have to chew old gum you found under a desk, staple your forehead, or talk to Dr. Strange.

Narcissism

3 Reasons People Are Drawn to Narcissists

Richard Brouillette LCSW on March 3, 2023

If you have narcissistic people in your life, there are ways to manage the relationship so that it works for you—if that’s possible.

If you have narcissistic people in your life, there are ways to manage the relationship so that it works for you—if that’s possible.

Trauma

5 Ways Childhood Trauma Affects Relationship Boundaries

Richard Brouillette LCSW on February 14, 2023

Childhood trauma leaves us with the message that relationships are both necessary and dangerous, so boundaries get confused. Here’s how.

Childhood trauma leaves us with the message that relationships are both necessary and dangerous, so boundaries get confused. Here’s how.

Self-Talk

Change the Channel in Your Brain with this Journal Prompt

Richard Brouillette LCSW on February 3, 2023

The self-talk journal is a 10-minute prompt that will get a dialogue going between the emotion and judgment centers of your brain— like writing a screenplay of your self-care.

The self-talk journal is a 10-minute prompt that will get a dialogue going between the emotion and judgment centers of your brain— like writing a screenplay of your self-care.

Narcissism

Punitiveness Schema and Hidden Narcissistic Manipulation

Richard Brouillette LCSW on January 20, 2023

Punitiveness schema is a punitive tone in your thinking that has you believing you’re never enough. This leaves you vulnerable to people who exploit insecurity.

Punitiveness schema is a punitive tone in your thinking that has you believing you’re never enough. This leaves you vulnerable to people who exploit insecurity.

Child Development

How Negativity “Protects” You From Really Living Life

Richard Brouillette LCSW on January 17, 2023

Childhood neglect and parental negativity can lead to a negative view of possibility and hope, and a belief that you’re protected from disappointment and rejection. (You’re not.)

Childhood neglect and parental negativity can lead to a negative view of possibility and hope, and a belief that you’re protected from disappointment and rejection. (You’re not.)

Relationships

3 Ways Approval-Seeking Is a Threat to Love Relationships

Richard Brouillette LCSW on January 10, 2023

Approval-seeking causes anger, resentment, and a negative cycle. But you can manage your approval-seeking schema and overcome the challenges it poses to relationships.

Approval-seeking causes anger, resentment, and a negative cycle. But you can manage your approval-seeking schema and overcome the challenges it poses to relationships.

Relationships

Why Do We Love Whodunits Like "Glass Onion"?

Richard Brouillette LCSW on January 2, 2023

Research suggests that 4 common elements make it hard to look away from whodunits.

Research suggests that 4 common elements make it hard to look away from whodunits.

Gaslighting

4 Signs That You Have an Inner Gaslighter

Richard Brouillette LCSW on December 29, 2022

Childhood unmet needs, combined with demeaning, bullying, or abusive caregivers, lead to an internal dialogue that sounds like gaslighting. But there are ways to recover.

Childhood unmet needs, combined with demeaning, bullying, or abusive caregivers, lead to an internal dialogue that sounds like gaslighting. But there are ways to recover.

Child Development

6 Signs Your Self-Control Issues Come From Childhood Neglect

Richard Brouillette LCSW on December 27, 2022

If it’s tough to moderate or control your impulses around pleasure, you may be feeling childhood triggers for emotional care.

If it’s tough to moderate or control your impulses around pleasure, you may be feeling childhood triggers for emotional care.

Self-Talk

Why Are Popular Christmas Movies So Dark?

Richard Brouillette LCSW on December 22, 2022

Movies that connect validate your full range of feelings. You can use self-talk to help manage the holidays by keeping it real while finding inspiration at the same time.

Movies that connect validate your full range of feelings. You can use self-talk to help manage the holidays by keeping it real while finding inspiration at the same time.